A VIEW FROM ...
2025 Hall of Fame Inductee: Kansas’ Flint Hills Trail State Park
By Laura Stark
Already Kansas’ longest rail-trail, the Flint Hills Trail State Park (rtc.li/ flint-hills) earned another feather in its cap this summer by becoming the newest inductee into Rails to Trails Conservancy’s Hall of Fame (railstotrails.org/ halloffame). Spanning 118 miles across the eastern half of the Sunflower State, the route joins an exemplary group of multiuse trails celebrated for the cultural, economic and quality-of-life benefits they bring to their communities. Check out just some of the ways this Midwestern gem earned this special recognition. “This honor is a testament to the natural beauty of our state and the commitment of Kansans who have worked to preserve it. The importance of these parks to our state’s economic well-being, as well as to the quality of life of Kansans, cannot be overstated.” — Laura Kelly, Governor of Kansas
PHOTOS: All photos of Flint Hills Trail State Park depicted in this article are courtesy Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
Within 90 minutes, travelers from three of the state’s largest cities—Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita—can be on the Flint Hills Trail. From Osawatomie to Herington, the route connects five counties and more than a dozen rural communities, spaced roughly 10 miles apart, providing opportunities to boost the regional economy through tourism and recreation. In Ottawa, the pathway also directly links to the Prairie Spirit Trail State Park, another Hall of Famer, providing an additional 51 miles of adventure.
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